Hello, Ptsd With Comorbid Psych Disorder.

[Catendo]

Hi, I'm new here. I was just given the diagnosis of PTSD a week ago and my head is spinning. My father also had PTSD (service connected -- Vietnam era Vet). I also have the diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, so things might get a little interesting in my treatment plan.

My difficulties started, but don't end, with health problems and the response to them by a number of doctors. I'm not comfortable discussing anything in detail yet. I will tell you the health troubles are reproductive system based and that I am an ovarian and endometrial cancer survivor.

I have not been to my gyn oncologist in two years and I am six years out of my diagnosis now.

I very recently lost my mother to endometrial cancer and that has brought everything sharply into focus again. I lost my grandmother about a month and a half ago, my grandfather had a massive stroke (luckily he is recovering a lot of what he lost from that) a week before she died, and I lost my father about two years ago to a violent and sudden car accident where a tourist driving a motorhome failed to stop at a stop sign. I nearly lost my mother in that crash, she survived, one day her blood sugar dropped to 15 and I had to perform CPR on her, then the cancer got her.

It has been a rough haul. I can't say that I feel very hopeful that things will change for me. I feel horribly depressed, I feel completely alone in the world, and I'm flat-out miserable. My anxiety is through the roof. I can't relax at all. I'm always on edge, always looking for the next shoe to drop. I also can't sleep for anything.

One thing that really surprised me, while reading about PTSD earlier tonight, is how all of these physical things I have wrong with me might be related or even caused by the PTSD. Stuff like the pounding heartbeat and the rapid breathing and my GERD and other digestive issues.

There is so much more that I can't figure out how to say yet. But from what I've read so far, this seems like a good place to be.

Thanks fo reading.

 

[cherryblossom]

Hi Catendo,

Welcome to the forum. :)

 

[Deaf Global Nomad]

Welcome to the forum, Catendo!

It definitely sounds like you have been and are going through a lot. This forum is so well organized that after looking around a bit you should be able to find areas where you can address all the different issues you are dealing with.

Loss and comorbidity are common topics. They affect us all as humans and likely more severely as PTSDers. I just lost a friend to uterine cancer a few months ago. In addition my mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Simultaneously I have several other people going through treatment at various stages. It all affects my PTSD, my stress level.

As far as comorbidity, there are also quite a few people on here. My comorbidity issues are primarily physical. I am profoundly deaf and a proud member of the Deaf Community. In conjunction, my vestibular system (the balance system in your inner ears) is severely affected. My vision is also affected, also secondary to scarlet fever I had as a young child.

All of these issues compound the effects of my PTSD. As you mentioned, additional issues also affect the quality of your medical treatment. This is extremely common and we are definitely NOT alone. The reason I have been off the boards for a while the past couple of weeks is that I have begun writing two books. I am an academic and researcher related to interdisciplinary topics. One book is about receiving respectful and appropriate medical care for all people. I am writing this as an interdisciplinarian from the perspective of Disability Studies.

The second book, is more a personal book, with the end-goal of having a narrative when I complete therapy. It may or may not be helpful for others. It depends on how I write it. As I do not know my outcome yet and the ups and down of treatment still affect me profoundly, this book may just be a private diary.

Know that you are not alone. Welcome to the club!

 

[Froggie]

Welcome to the forum Catendo. The only thing I can add is that you will find this a safe place to vent out. You will find respect and support. You have been going through some very rough times. Linking arms with you and sending you (((Hugs))).

 

[intothelight]

Hi Catendo,

Welcome to the PTSD Forum. I am sorry for your recent losses and hope that you find healing here among us.

Wishing you peace.
Debbie

 

[James B.]

It has been a rough haul.

Same here. Welcome to the forum, Catendo. :) This is a good place to be. :tup:

 

[Kim]

My heart goes out to you.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[CraftyCath]

Welcome Ctaendo. I lost my Mother to Cancer and my Father to a heart attack whilst my PTSD was misdiagnosed as depression and ME. I suffer from Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium),Osteopenia (A precursor to Osteoporosis) and iron deficiency anemia (It seems my body doesn't absorb the stuff it needs properly). I also have tinnitus which keeps me awake and gets worse with the anxiety. Non of the above are life threatening but I do believe we PTSDers are more prone to developing other things and I have a really low immune system and pick up every bug going around.

I wish you well and hope you get a lot out of the forum. I only joined recently and found some of the lighter threads lifted me no end. Much love. x